Enjoy the Summer Heat

Last Friday was the astronomical beginning of summer, and the weather in the Northeast complied with scorching temperatures. Today, we’re just coming out of a heatwave that saw the hottest day in New York City in over a decade. I don’t recall specific memories of the thermometer hitting 100˚F; however, 2012 was a different time. When summer arrived—and with it, the city heat—you simply dealt with it. These days, a heatwave is considered an extreme weather emergency, and your phone is flooded with warning notifications for days.

I like those hot days. They can be unpleasant or even dangerous, but if you’re lucky and have access to air-conditioned spaces and don’t have to work outside, there’s some magic in the heat. The air becomes heavy, and time seems to slow down. A cold glass of water becomes a delicious treat, and walking into a cooled space gives you a moment of relief before the hot outside hits you again like a soft wall.

You can feel a different kind of heat in the music of Tan Cologne, who released their third album Unknown Beyond last Friday. In New York, we experience humid, tropical summers, but Tan Cologne is based in New Mexico and inspired by the dry, vast desert landscape. If you have some downtime, put on headphones and dream away a hot day. Or check out this week’s five songs, which are inspired by Tan Cologne and the desert.

glamglare favorites

Listen to glamglare favorites on Spotify, Apple Music, or below on YouTube.

• “New Dune” is off Tan Cologne’s first album Cave Vaults on the Moon in New Mexico. It has a desert feel both in the title and very much in the music.
• Windowspeak is from Brooklyn, but their 2011 song “Gun Shy” fits perfectly here. We saw them live at NYC’s Mercury Lounge, maybe around that time.
• “Drive” captures the feeling of a sunset ride, the kind that winds through open desert roads. It is from the 2014 album July by Boston singer/songwriter Marissa Nadler.
• Loma is a supergroup featuring Cross Record and Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater. “Relay Runner” brings crickets, but also a darker undertone to the table.
• We cannot leave out Warpaint in this list. Though (loosely) based in LA, much of their music has been recorded in the desert of Joshua Tree. “Billy Holiday” is from their debut EP in 2009 and ends this week’s five songs on a lovely note.

Song Pick of the Day

Listen to/watch all seven songs on YouTube. Follow our daily updated playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify for the 50 latest Song Pick of the Day features, or subscribe here to receive them in your mailbox in real-time. Thank you for following us and sharing the excitement.

• The London band Dance Lessons is creating music in its own sonic universe. "Hurricane" is from their debut album Beginners, out on July 25.
• A long-time glamglare favorite is back! New York band Laveda has a gritty new single, "Heaven," out and announces their third album, Darla, Love, set for release in September.
• "making the most of it" is a cinematic, post-breakup song. It is the very first stunning single by actress Michelle Núñez.
• "Los Angeles has had a major influence on our work," says Dear Boy, but they also take a heavy dose of Britpop guitar sound into their music. Their new song "Kelly Green" is irresistible – we say.
• The Chicago duo OK Cool will release their debut album Chit Chat on August 1. The new single “Safety Car” is a fun track about the important people in your life. Listen here:
• NYC indie rock band Freezing Cold reflects on old photos in their new song, "Backlight.” "Since you made that 4x6 memory, life added context. People have passed away. Others, you thought you’d know for years to come," singer Jeff Cunningham explains.
• "The Messenger" is from Kirsten Izer's beautiful EP, The Perfect Hire, which she describes as "a collection of songs that are loosely about both love and heartbreak."

Nine Photos of Summer

Oliver writes about the summer heat, and while I can’t photograph the air shimmering at 100˚F, I can show you what summer feels like. Enjoy a few snapshots from Downtown Manhattan, nights and days.